I’m much prone to claiming that such-and-such an album was my favourite when I was such-and-such an age, but I think Sandie Shaw’s “Hello Angel” may genuinely have been my favourite album when I was 16. Always a bit too pop-obsessed (and slightly too young) to really love The Smiths at the time, this was perfect for me: a glamorous 60s diva disinterred by Moz and given the chance to prove her relevance in the late 80s (the album was released – on Rough Trade, natch – in 1988).
The only actual Smiths song on the album is “Hand In Glove”, which she’d released several years earlier, but Morrissey and Stephen Street also contributed the two minutes of throwaway fun that is “Please Help The Cause Against Loneliness”.
Elsewhere, the album includes Sandie’s versions of The Waterboys’ “A Girl Called Johnny” and the Mary Chain’s “Cool About You”, the latter of which is particularly splendid. But surprisingly, it’s her own songwriting that wins out, in my opinion. “Nothing Less Than Brilliant” is aptly titled: joyous, ebullient, life-affirming. Expressing sentiments like these, it’s no surprise she went on to become a psychotherapist. (But then, I would say that.) The title track is gorgeously languorous. Or languorously gorgeous. Or something. “Take Him” is a slinky little “Jolene-esque” cha-cha-cha. And “I Will Remain” is just breathtaking – even down to the comedy punchline (Morrissey’s influence pretty obvious there, I would say!).
I guess what I love(d) about this album is how surprisingly cohesive it is. It should feel like a ragbag of “will this do?” covers, but it hangs together really well as a whole, I think. And Sandie has probably never sounded in better voice.
Ladies and gentlemen, here she is, Miss Sandie Shaw…
Bish –
I gave this a listen halfway through last night before bed, but didn’t want to write anything yet as i didn’t want to be too hasty. I’ve very vaguely heard of her from RR, and vaguely remember the Smiths connection, but have no prior baggage.
Thought it was kind of lovely at the first song, and some nice before bedtime music. I think my problem with it from then on was what to you is cohesiveness, to me is kind of saminess. They all sort of started to blend together for me, and this morning i’m hard pressed to remember any of them.
So that’s a hasty sort of impression, but i’ll try to give it some more of the time it deserves later on tonight.
Aw, thanks for giving it a listen, Amy – I know a whole album is a bit more than bitesize! It’s by no means a challenging listen so I know what you mean about the sameyness/possible forgettability, but I think it’s got some cracking pop tunes, particularly “Nothing Less Than Brilliant”, “Cool About You” and “I Will Remain”.
I liked that. But, then I already had a liking for Sandie – and there’s that mysterious inter-record-collection link to take into account.